Restaurant planned for Bay View has ties to Chicago's Longman & Eagle

Update: The MEDC's Loan and Finance Committee supported the request for the loan, and it moves to the lender's full board.

A restaurant planned for Bay View with apparent ties to Chicago restaurant Longman & Eagle is seeking a loan through the nonprofit business lender Milwaukee Economic Development Corp.

Called Galaxy, according to MEDC documents, the restaurant would open in a 1906 wooden structure at 2659 S. Kinnickinnic Ave. that previously was Home tavern. (It would be next door to the new gelato, frozen yogurt and crepes shop that's expected to open in November at 2663 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., called Cream City Swirl.)

Owners including managing operator James McCann are seeking a loan of $138,250, about a third of the total project cost of $395,000. McCann is a partner in Longman & Eagle, an employee there confirmed; he could not be reached immediately for more information. Longman & Eagle is a Michelin-starred restaurant and inn in Chicago's Logan Square neighborhood that serves a contemporary American menu.

Also named as an owner is Jered Gummere, a Chicago musician probably best known as the frontman for the Ponys; he has worked for the Empty Bottle bar in Chicago, owned by another Longman & Eagle partner, Bruce Finkelman.

The MEDC's Loan and Finance Committee is due to take up the request on Tuesday. The primary lender for the restaurant would be Tri City National Bank; it's estimated 20 full-time and 16 part-time jobs would be created by the restaurant, according to documents filed with the MEDC, which is affiliated with the city.

About Carol Deptolla

Carol Deptolla is the Journal Sentinel dining critic. She also reports on restaurants, bars and other food- and drink-related businesses.